Gaming's last stands

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What happens when games machines die

The last stand of: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Last official UK release: Madden NFL '98 (November, 1997)
Last official US release: Frogger (October 6, 1998)

Frogger again was the last to sit on the lily-pad of 16-bit gamingin the US, while UK owners were given Madden NFL '98 in the tail-end of 1997. There was a SNES versionofFIFA 97 too, but we're pretty sure Madden was released last. Sadly the mists of time have shrouded the console's last few months, but we can say Frogger definitely didn't make the jump across the pond to the UK. Understandable, though- it is a very big pond.

Final hurrah: Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest
Despite Donkey Kong Country 3 appearing in 1996, we'd have to say its predecessor Donkey Kong Country 2 was the system's last hurrah(coming just two months after Yoshi's Island in the UK)-partly because the third DKC wasn't that great.

In the year everyone was going crazy for the (then) next-gen consoles, it was easy to overlook SNES' charms. But Donkey Kong Country 2: Diddy's Kong Quest is a masterpiece and still looked great alongside its more tech-heavy peers. Indeed, one mag printed early screenshots of the game and suggested they might be the first screens from Nintendo's next machine - the N64.

But it was just SNES showing its class. With a cool pirate theme and many improvements over the original game, DKC2 still feels magical. Swinging through the rigging on the second level while that timeless music plays is so much more than the sum of its parts. And every time we go back to it, it sends a chill down our spines. Long live SNES.

And so, like the consoles we've just looked at, this feature comes to an end. But it needn't be that way. Maybe you disagree with our 'last hurrah' selections, or reckon you know a later Japanese-only title that we didn't mention that you think everyone should play. If so, why not voice your opinions in the GamesRadar forum? There's a whole retro section dedicated to discussing classic games and reminiscing, so if you like your games old-school, check it out. We'll see you there.

Above: With the few niggles of Donkey Kong Country ironed out, its sequel is a gem

And so, like the consoles we've just looked at, this feature comes to an end. But it needn't be that way. Maybe you disagree with our 'last hurrah' selections, or reckon you know a later Japanese-only title that we didn't mention that you think everyone should play. If so, why not voice your opinionsin theGamesRadar forum? There's a wholeretro section dedicated to discussing classic games and reminiscing, so if you like your games old-school, check it out. We'll see you there.

Justin Towell
Justin Towell

Justin was a GamesRadar staffer for 10 years but is now a freelancer, musician and videographer. He's big on retro, Sega and racing games (especially retro Sega racing games) and currently also writes for Play Magazine, Traxion.gg, PC Gamer and TopTenReviews, as well as running his own YouTube channel. Having learned to love all platforms equally after Sega left the hardware industry (sniff), his favourite games include Christmas NiGHTS into Dreams, Zelda BotW, Sea of Thieves, Sega Rally Championship and Treasure Island Dizzy.